Seoul Gazette - Trump Reduces Public Appearances Amid CIA-Mossad Warnings of Iranian Drone Plot

President Donald Trump has scaled back his public schedule following intelligence warnings from the Central Intelligence Agency and Israel’s Mossad that Iran has plotted to assassinate him using explosive drones. The security alert coincides with a period of heightened diplomatic tension between Washington and Tehran, as well as significant internal shifts in the administration’s security protocols.

According to reports citing Israeli media outlet Israel Hayom, Mossad provided the CIA with specific intelligence claiming Iran intended to target the President. This warning comes months after previous fears of an assassination plot forced changes in Trump’s travel arrangements during his 2024 campaign. The recent intelligence exchange occurred as Mossad Director Roman Gofman held talks with CIA Director John Ratcliffe in Washington, D.C., over the past week.

Senior Israeli and U.S. officials indicated that these reported plots have contributed to a cooling of peace talks between the two nations in recent days. A senior official confirmed that Israeli intelligence believes the current threat involves the use of explosive drones. The concern is not isolated to the President; it reflects a broader pattern of threats against U.S. officials.

The security concerns have led to the relocation of several high-ranking cabinet members from their homes in Washington, D.C., to military housing. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was reported to be the latest official moved out of his residence amid threats on his life. Attorney General Todd Blanche, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have also been relocated to secure military accommodations.

Bessent’s move follows intelligence assessments that determined the threats against him had reached an advanced stage. The Treasury Secretary has been a central figure in Trump’s economic strategy against Iran, leading efforts to isolate Tehran through tougher sanctions and the closure of trade routes. In a recent op-ed for the Financial Times, Bessent described this campaign as "Operation Economic Outcast," stating that Trump has been making direct calls to world leaders to cease interactions with the Islamic Republic.

Despite the threats, a spokesperson for the Department of the Treasury stated that Bessent "will not be deterred by the Iranian regime’s threats" and would continue the economic battle. Bessent has reportedly advised Trump to prioritize a sweeping sanctions campaign over direct military airstrikes, though the President has expressed expectations of further bombing campaigns after the midterm elections.

The security situation for the President is particularly acute given his recent travel schedule. Trump has not held a public event in several days but is set to travel to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The gathering is described as an unprecedented meeting of heads of state from the world’s largest nuclear powers. During the summit, Trump is slated to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The White House has not issued a direct comment on the specific details of the drone plot report. However, officials stated that the President is receiving constant updates regarding recent aviation security incidents, including an FAA ground stall. Throughout the period of reduced public appearances, Trump has continued to post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

The threats against U.S. officials echo earlier tensions from 2024, when Iran unveiled a banner in Tehran’s Enqelab Square with the message "We Will Kill Trump." The current climate of fear is compounded by economic instability, including soaring gas prices and stalled economic growth. Financial markets have reacted to the geopolitical uncertainty, with 10-year Treasury yields hitting their highest level since 2002 despite efforts by Bessent to rein them in through bond buybacks.

The national debt has recently surpassed $40 trillion, and the deficit has ballooned past 6 percent of GDP, exceeding the 3 percent target initially presented by Bessent. Despite these economic challenges and the serious nature of the security threats, Trump has reportedly maintained a close relationship with his Treasury Secretary, joking at a recent event in Nevada that he "created a monster" in reference to Bessent’s aggressive economic policies.

V.Bae--SG